Electrical connectors



June 2, 1970 D. A. YOUNG 3,516,047

ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Sept. 12, 1967 United States Patent 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector comprising an insulating moulding having therein at least one conductive member which is adapted for engagement with a lead, the housing defining an aperture through which part of the conductive member is exposed to facilitate the connection thereto of an additional lead.

This invention relates to electrical connectors of the kind comprising an insulating moulding within which is housed at least one conductive member, the conductive member being adapted for engagement with a lead.

In connectors of the kind specified it has been difficult in the past to connect an additional lead to the conductive member when the member has been engaged in the housing. Such an operation has involved either the removal of the member from the housing or the interconnection of the additional lead with the original lead at a point on the original lead outside the housing, both of which operations are inconvenient. It is the object of the present invention to minimise the inconvenience of making such an additional connection.

According to the invention in a connector of the kind specified the housing is moulded with an aperture through which in use part of the conductive member will be exposed to facilitate the connection of an additional lead thereto.

In the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively an exploded perspective view and a fragmentary sectional view of a connector according to one example of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a moulded, synthetic resin housing 11 having therein a plurality of passages 12. Within each passage 12 is housed a conventional conductive terminal 13 of the kind which is shaped to receive a blade terminal. Each terminal 13 includes a pair of tags 14 which are, in use, deformed to grip and make electrical connection to a lead 15. Each terminal 13 Patented June 2, 1970 "ice further includes a resilient tongue 16 which engages a shoulder within the respective passage to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the terminal from the housing after assembly. The housing 11 is moulded with an aperture 17 through which, in use, part of the terminal is exposed.

There is provided a resilient conductive clip 18 shaped to engage the terminal 13 and provided with a strap like portion 19 under which the end of a second lead 21 is inserted. Thus when it is desired to make a connection via the lead 21 to the terminal 13 in addition to the connection made via the lead 15, it is merely necessary to engage the clip 18 with the exposed part of the terminal 13. The housing 11 is moulded with a groove 22 within which the lead 21 is engaged in use. The lead 21 is secured in position beneath the strap portion 19 of the clip 18, and the clip 18 is shaped to be engaged as a snap fit with the exposed portion of the terminal 13.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical connector comprising in combination a moulded synthetic resin housing, a conductive terminal socket positioned within the housing so as to be engageable by a mating terminal member of a second electrical connector, an aperture in the wall of the moulded housing through which a portion of the terminal socket is exposed, and an auxiliary terminal member releasably engaged with said exposed portion of said terminal socket, said auxiliary terminal member having a lead electrically connected thereto, and the auxiliary terminal member, and the terminal socket being so shaped that the auxiliary terminal member is releasably engaged with the exposed portion of the terminal socket as a snap fit, said housing being formed with a groove adjacent said aperture, said lead being engaged in said groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,848 6/ 1930 Whisler 339-258 2,402,578 6/1946 Rollow 339-198 2,540,037 1/1951 Vough et al. 339-258 2,551,423 5/1951 De Vito 339-258 X 2,675,531 4/1954 Sams et al. 39-213 X 3,087,137 4/1963 Linn 339-198 3,274,533 9/1966 Apted et al 339-166 X 3,387,253 6/1968 Salners et al. 339-154 X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 339-217, 242 

